Written Answers Friday 11 March 2011

Scottish Executive

Apprenticeships

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of demand there is for modern apprenticeship places for 2011-12, also broken down by category.

Angela Constance: Skills Development Scotland is currently undertaking a procurement exercise for modern apprenticeship places. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with the information you have requested once this exercise is complete.

Apprenticeships

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what budget has been allocated for the 25,000 modern apprenticeship places for 2011-12.

Angela Constance: In the budget in February, we announced that we will invest a further £11.5 million to create 25,000 modern apprenticeship places.

  Skills Development Scotland will detail plans for the delivery of the 25,000 modern apprenticeships in its operating plan for 2011-12. This is due to be published later this month.

Apprenticeships

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for modern apprenticeship places there have been for 2011-12 for people aged (a) 16 to 19 and (b) 20 and over.

Angela Constance: Skills Development Scotland is currently undertaking a procurement exercise for modern apprenticeship places. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with the information you have requested once this exercise is complete.

Autism

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the Autistic Spectrum Disorder Reference Group and who decided on that remit.

Shona Robison: The remit of the Autistic Spectrum Disorder Reference Group is to:

  offer advice and leadership, consult and engage with stakeholders to implement the recommendations arising from the Scottish Governments Autism Strategy;

  identify and continue to scope ongoing gaps in service provision for people with autism

  lead in the planning, development, implementation and monitoring of new policy initiatives in line with the deadlines contained within the action plan for implementation;

  provide monthly updates to me demonstrating how the policy initiatives arising from the Scottish Government’s Autism Strategy are improving the quality of service provision for people with autism, and

  work in partnership to improve the lives of people with autism, show respect and listen to the views of other members.

  The remit was recently reviewed and updated by the reference group and ratified by me.

Benefits

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest claimant count is in Dundee for people claiming for up to six months.

Angela Constance: The claimant count is a measure of those claiming unemployment related benefits in Scotland. The latest data is for January 2011. This shows that there were 3,665 people on the claimant count for Dundee City local authority, who have been claiming for up to six months.

  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Data is rounded to nearest five.

  2. Data is not seasonally adjusted.

Cancer

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consider introducing (a) image assisted screening or (b) testing for human papilloma virus (HPV) in screening for cervical cancer and, if so, over what timescale.

Shona Robison: (a) The Cervical Cytology Laboratory Review Group has recommended the introduction of image assisted screening if cost effective to NHS Boards. The new Laboratory Consortium Steering Group has been asked to consider cost effectiveness as part of its work.

  (b) Consideration will be given to introducing HPV testing as a "Test of Cure" nationally following the early implementation study which will conclude its work on 31 January 2012.

Cancer

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a pilot exercise is taking place, or is planned, for (a) image assisted screening or (b) testing for human papilloma virus (HPV) in screening for cervical cancer and, if so, over what timescale.

Shona Robison: (a) The Scottish Government commissioned a feasibility study of image assisted screening which took place between March 2009 and September 2010.

  The Feasibility Study Report can be found on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/screening/cervicalscreening/LabReviewGroup/CervicalCytologyReports.

  (b) The HPV "Test of Cure" early implementation study commenced on 1 February 2011 and will take 12 months to complete.

Cancer

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a decision on the introduction of (a) image assisted screening or (b) testing for human papilloma virus (HPV) in screening for cervical cancer would be taken on a comparative or individual basis.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government commissioned a feasibility study of image assisted screening which took place between March 2009 and September 2010.

  The Feasibility Study Report can be found on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/screening/cervicalscreening/LabReviewGroup/CervicalCytologyReports.

  At its last meeting in January 2011, the Breast and Cervical Screening National Advisory Group recommended that a sub group be established to consider HPV testing within the cervical screening programme. The National Advisory Group will at its next meeting consider the remit, membership and timing of this sub-group.

Cancer

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the liquid-based cytology equipment used in primary screening for cervical cancer to come to the end of its working life.

Shona Robison: Liquid-based cytology equipment has a working life of between seven to 10 years.

  The original installation dates at each NHS board vary between 2001 to 2007 and NHS boards are responsible for the replacement of this equipment.

Cancer

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria would be applied in considering the introduction of (a) image assisted screening and (b) human papilloma virus (HPV) testing in screening for cervical cancer.

Shona Robison: The UK National Screening Committee provides expert advice to the four UK countries on screening programmes and is yet to fully consider HPV testing in screening for cervical cancer. In addition, the Breast and Cervical Screening National Advisory Group has recommended that a sub group be established to consider HPV testing within the cervical screening programme in Scotland. The sub-group will use its expertise to consider the available evidence and will provide advice to the Scottish Government. The timeline for the sub-group to report will be agreed shortly.

  With any introduction of or change to screening programmes in Scotland, evidence, effectiveness and cost benefit is always considered to ensure that the best possible programme in delivered for the Scottish population.

Co-operatives

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage co-operative business participation in the UN International Year of Cooperatives 2012.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-39059 on 7 February 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Co-operatives

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions Co-operative Development Scotland has had with co-operative businesses regarding their participation in the UN International Year of Cooperatives 2012.

Jim Mather: Planned discussions will be taken forward by Co-operative Development Scotland, from spring 2011, including consulting with co-operative businesses, on the participation in the UN International Year of Co-operatives 2012.

Dairy Industry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-39204 by Richard Lochhead on 10 February 2011, whether it has made representations to (a) Sodexo and (b) Graham’s Family Dairy to ensure that the dairy farmers supplying the Scottish Government are receiving a price per litre in excess of production costs and above the average market rate.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government contract with Sodexo is to provide catering service, not specific foods or products. Whilst we expect our contractor to pay a fair price, the arrangements between our contractor and their suppliers are commercially sensitive and for the contractor to manage.

  Separately I have recently met with Robert Graham junior to discuss options to increase the sustainability of the Scottish dairy sector.

Domestic Abuse

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-13076 by Fergus Ewing on 24 February 2011 ( Official Report , c. 33517), how it is addressing the provision of specialist advocacy services in courts dealing with domestic abuse incidents.

Fergus Ewing: Specialist advocacy services in courts dealing with domestic abuse incidents is a joint local matter for police, criminal justice social work, Crown Office/Procurator Fiscal Service (inc. Victim Information Agency), Witness Service, Scottish Court Service and the third sector (i.e., Victim Support Scotland, Women’s Aid etc.). The domestic abuse toolkit encourages local partners in sheriffdoms to consider setting up multi-agency steering and implementation groups, which would agree the shape of a local specialist advocacy service.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many women in Dundee aged (a) 50 to 54 and (b) 55 to 59 are unemployed and what percentage of unemployed women in Dundee the groups represent in total.

Angela Constance: It is not possible to provide International Labour Organization  ( ILO )  unemployment data disaggregated below local authority level from survey data (Annual Population Survey and Labour Force Survey) as the numbers are below reliability thresholds.

  Claimant count data can be used to measure those claiming unemployment related benefits in Scotland where survey data cannot be used. The table details the number of women claiming unemployment related benefits in Dundee by 50 to 54 and 55 to 59 age-groups, and the percentage of women claiming unemployment related benefits in Dundee these groups represent.

  Table 1: JSA Claimant Counts and Proportions for Women Aged 50+, by Age-Group, Dundee City Council, January 2011

  

Age-Group
Claimant Count1
Percentage of all Female Claimants


Aged 50-54
120
8.8


Aged 55-59
70
5.2



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Data is rounded to nearest five.

  2. Data is not seasonally adjusted.

  3. Percentage given is that of particular age-group as a proportion of all age-groups within that particular gender.

Energy

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the debate on electricity market reform on 13 January 2011 ( Official Report , c. 32212), what its response is to the Electricity Market Reform consultation launched by the Department of Energy and Climate Change on 16 December 2010.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has today published its response to the Electricity Market Reform consultation. A copy of the response has been sent to the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee of the Parliament and can be found on our website.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Infrastructure/Grid-Connections/EMR-consultation-UK.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of waste arising from its operations it recycles.

John Swinney: The most recently published information is contained within Table 1 of the Annual Report on Environmental Performance of the Scottish Government estate for the 2008-09 financial year. This report was published on 21 May 2010 and is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, (Bib. number 50874). 73% of waste was recycled during this period.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reduced the waste arising from its operations by 10% relative to 2006-07 levels.

John Swinney: The most recently published information is contained within Table 1 of the Annual Report on Environmental Performance of the Scottish Government estate for the 2008-09 financial year. This report was published on 21 May 2010 and is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50874). This 10% target has been met.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reduced CO 2 emissions arising from energy use in its buildings by 12.6% from 1999-2000 levels.

John Swinney: The most recently published information is contained within Table 1 of the Annual Report on Environmental Performance of the Scottish Government estate for the 2008-09 financial year. This report was published on 21 May 2010 and is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50874). It highlighted good performance in the areas of waste reduction and recycling but weaker performance in reducing emissions from energy use.

  Carbon dioxide emissions arising from energy use in the then 18 target Scottish Government buildings decreased by 0.3% between 1999-2000 and 2008-09.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction against 2005-06 levels it has achieved in carbon emissions from travel necessary for its administrative operations.

John Swinney: The most recently published information is contained within Table 1 of the Annual Report on Environmental Performance of the Scottish Government estate for the 2008-09 financial year. This report was published on 21 May 2010 and is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50874). Carbon dioxide emissions arising from the business travel of Scottish Government officials decreased by 2.5%, between 2005-06 and 2008-09, including a reduction in air mileage of 9% and an increase in rail mileage of 6%; this modal shift of journeys was in line with the Scottish Government’s Travel Plan.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what process it used in selecting the (a) members and (b) locations and communities of the three local youth investigation teams created in conjunction with YoungScot under the Low Carbon Scotland Public Engagement Strategy.

Roseanna Cunningham: Young Scot used their networks and experience to establish the teams. The process of identifying locations included ensuring that the teams should represent urban and rural areas.

  The process also involved ensuring that participants included young people of different ages in full time education, and young people who are currently not in education or employment. Two schools and one training organisation are involved in the local investigation teams, which are based in Stirling, Lochgilphead and Kilmarnock, and worked with the young people attending their organisations to identify team members.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be allocated to the work of each of the three local youth investigation teams created in conjunction with YoungScot under the Low Carbon Scotland Public Engagement Strategy.

Roseanna Cunningham: The local investigation teams are part of a broader Scottish Government/Young Scot project that is aimed at inspiring young people and encouraging them to consider the issues and opportunities that arise from tackling climate change.

  Each team will conduct an investigation into different aspects of low carbon living. The findings of each investigation will be published.

  Approximately £4,000 will be allocated to the work of each of the teams.

Finance

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will receive Barnett consequentials resulting from the Big Society Transition Fund.

John Swinney: The Big Society Transition Fund was announced as part of the CSR settlement and as such any comparable Department consequentials arising from the Fund were included in the Scottish settlement from HM Treasury.

Finance

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will receive future Barnett consequentials arising from UK Government spending on the Big Society.

John Swinney: I understand that details of the Big Society funding are currently being finalised by the Cabinet Office. The Scottish Government will be entitled to Barnett consequentials of any comparable Department additional funding for this purpose.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of commercial woodland have been planted in the national forestry estate in each year since 1999, also broken down by local authority area.

Roseanna Cunningham: The amount of hectares planted in the national forest estate is listed in the following tables:

  

Local Authority Area
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009


Aberdeen City
11
10
0
11
9
0
0
6
46
0
7


Aberdeenshire
382
388
381
457
467
461
397
426
271
335
295


Angus
30
54
35
52
40
42
19
85
7
13
22


Argyll and Bute
759
789
997
968
841
846
1,025
995
1,011
876
1,020


Clackmannanshire
0
1
0
12
0
2
0
0
0
0
0


Dumfries and Galloway
1,133
1,382
1,151
1,294
1,352
1,259
1,322
973
1,217
1,489
796


East Ayrshire
2
54
92
17
17
188
160
31
195
160
70


East Dunbartonshire
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
22
7
0


Falkirk
21
2
0
29
19
0
0
0
2
0
0


Fife
16
5
10
49
22
14
1
0
37
57
80


Highland
495
598
561
771
535
592
625
698
686
683
553


Inverclyde
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
50


Midlothian
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Moray
114
126
336
226
193
228
80
96
122
63
96


North Ayrshire
43
39
42
34
37
45
45
57
76
69
21


North Lanarkshire
16
8
61
39
29
87
99
5
28
54
28


Perth and Kinross
54
115
135
188
126
174
145
109
89
85
75


Renfrewshire
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
66


Scottish Borders
233
356
305
356
373
384
391
253
478
426
509


South Ayrshire
133
285
303
189
246
300
177
254
324
111
385


South Lanarkshire
0
24
22
21
13
17
5
33
173
33
176


Stirling
197
133
227
197
204
293
269
111
222
264
205


West Lothian
12
9
0
42
89
0
57
35
70
35
35


Total
3,650
4,382
4,659
4,952
4,611
4,933
4,817
4,167
5,077
4,760
4,489



  Note:

  * Planting year runs from 1 October until 30 September the following year.

  *2010 planting figures.

  

Forest Districts  
Hectares


North Highland
308


Lochaber
129


Inverness, Ross and Skye
291


Moray and Aberdeenshire
245


Tay
192


Cowal and Trossachs
222


West Argyll
607


Scottish Lowlands
316


Dumfries and Borders
378


Galloway
827


Total
3,515



  Note: *Figures are only available at this moment in time in by Forest District boundaries.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is legislation or guidance on the replanting of like-for-like commercial woodland for parts of the national forestry estate that are allocated for wind energy technology projects.

Roseanna Cunningham: There is no specific legislation to that effect.

  Policy direction on woodland removal, including compensatory planting, is set out in the Scottish Government’s "Policy on Control of Woodland Removal" (June 2008), a key aim of which is to minimise inappropriate loss of woodland in Scotland. Implementation guidance for Forestry Commission Scotland staff is available on their website. The consolidated Scottish Planning Policy now makes reference to the policy as does the second National Planning Framework.

  Where compensatory planting is required, the default position is for this planting to be of equivalent woodland area, on appropriate site types and with at least the equivalent, woodland-related net public benefits, this including timber production and carbon sequestration.

  Forest Enterprise Scotland will seek to maintain the productive potential of the national forest estate by ensuring that potential timber production lost through removal of woodland for wind farms will be replaced by the creation of new productive woodlands.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is legislation or guidance on reinvesting funds in replanting like-for-like woodland from wind energy technology projects that are sited on commercial woodland in the national forestry estate.

Roseanna Cunningham: There is no legislation to this effect.

  Revenue from wind farms is re-invested by Forestry Commission Scotland to support delivery of the Scottish Forestry Strategy, with one of the key outcomes sought being the development of innovative and competitive businesses which contribute to the growth of the Scottish economy. The National Forest Estate Strategic Plan, which was produced following a public consultation exercise, covers the period 2009-13 and sets out how Forest Enterprise Scotland will implement the Scottish Forestry Strategy, seeking to balance the delivery of its social, economic and environmental objectives. This includes a commitment to maintain annual timber production from the estate at a sustainable level of between 3.3 and 3.5 million cubic metres per year. This guarantee of a stable and predictable timber supply helps to maintain confidence and sustain jobs, in the timber harvesting, haulage and processing sectors.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the funds raised through Forestry Commission Scotland’s reprovisioning exercise has been reinvested in (a) tree planting and (b) purchasing land for the national forest estate since 2009.

Roseanna Cunningham: The amount reinvested in new planting since 2009 is £2,837,581 which equates to 10.2% of the total income through the repositioning programme and the amount reinvested in purchase price of properties of £8,107,591 equates to 29.2% although we expect this figure to be 40% by the end of March 2011.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how (a) many hectares have been sold and (b) much money has been raised through Forestry Commission Scotland’s reprovisioning exercise since 2009.

Roseanna Cunningham: Since 2009, 11,757 hectares have been sold under Forestry Commission Scotland’s repositioning programme raising £27,110,205 in the same period.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive where woodland sold through Forestry Commission Scotland’s reprovisioning exercise has been located since 2009 and what the date was of completion of each sale.

Roseanna Cunningham: Details of the location, date and woodland sold since 2009, through Forestry Commission Scotland’s repositioning programme is shown in the following table.

  

Forest District
Property Name
Date of Completion


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Auchernach Excambion (Glen Nochty Woodland)
14 May 2009


Dumfries and Borders
Nether Linkins (Bentudor)
13 October 2009


Dumfries and Borders
Nether Linkins (Barcloy)
13 October 2009


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Fochabers Bypass (Appropriation Order)
16 October 2009


Cowal and Trossachs
Ledcreich
22 October 2009


Cowal and Trossachs
Acharossan
10 November 2009


Scottish Lowlands
Stallashaw Moss
12 November 2009


Lochaber
Corrour
20 November 2009


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Gartly, Clinkstone
3 December 2009


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Gartly, Clinkstone
3 December 2009


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Gartly, Clinkstone
3 December 2009


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Auchmull, Lot 1 (Kinnoir Outliers)
7 December 2009


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Barlatch Wood (Lot 2, Rothiemay)
26 January 2010


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Bog Wood (Lot 3, Rothiemay)
26 January 2010


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Gartly, Clinkstone
3 December 2009


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Auchmull, Lot 1 (Kinnoir Outliers)
7 December 2009


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Barlatch Wood (Lot 2, Rothiemay)
26 January 2010


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Bog Wood (Lot 3, Rothiemay)
26 January 2010


Cowal and Trossachs
Auchtubhmhor
2 February 2010


North Highland
Ardchronie
19 February 2010


North Highland
Loubcroy
9 March 2010


Tay
Smyrna
16 March 2010


Inverness, Ross and Skye
Inverinate and Dorusduain
19 March 2010


North Highland
Camster 
19 March 2010


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Burnfield (Lot 1, Rothiemay)
26 March 2010


Tay
Harran (Glenhead)
26 March 2010


West Argyll
Land at West Loch Caravan Park, Tarbert
26 March 2009


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Clintlaw
30 March 2010


Inverness, Ross and Skye
Durnamuck
16 October 2009


Dumfries and Borders
Affordable Housing Site at Ae Village
29 March 2010


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Land at Gaudiedale
31 March 2010


Cowal and Trossachs
Acharossan 3 (KCFC)
26 March 2010


Tay
Port an Eilean House, Tummel - Water Supply
6 April 2009


Inverness, Ross and Skye
West End Croft, Lochview (Clawback)
14 April 2009


Galloway
Greenfield Farmhouse and Land
20 April 2009


North Highland
Land at Bumble Bee Cottage, Embo
24 April 2009


Lochaber
Land Adjoining Torgulbin House
11 May 2009


Lochaber
Land Adjoining Am Bealach Farmhouse
1 June 2009


Cowal and Trossachs
Water Mains Pipe - Loch Eck - Rashfield
8 June 2009


Scottish Lowlands
High Boreland Farm (Reconveyance)
22 June 2009


West Argyll
Afon Orchy - Water Supply Servitude
13 July 2009


North Highland
Land at Inver House, Culrain
14 July 2009


Inverness, Ross and Skye
Land at Broadford (HIE)
23 July 2009


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Pipelines to Roseisle Distillery (Diageo)
24 July 2009


Scottish Lowlands
East Grange - Lots 2, 3 and 4
29 July 2009


Scottish Lowlands
Leigh Letters Service Reservoir, Lamlash, Arran
21 August 2009


West Argyll
Land adjoining Harbour Cottage, Crinan
24 August 2009


Galloway
Land at Deughside, Dundeugh (Boundary Encroachment)
1 September 2009


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Land at Fochabers (Scottish Water)
15 October 2009


Scottish Lowlands
Crowhill, Auchlochan
16 October 2009


Tay
East Freuchies - Water Supply Servitude
27 October 2009


Lochaber
Access Servitude at Invergarry
30 October 2009


Inverness, Ross and Skye
Land at Feshiebridge
2 November 2009


Tay
Ladywell Farm boundary adjustment
2 November 2009


Cowal and Trossachs
Capercailzie Cottage, Strathyre
13 November 2009


Inverness, Ross and Skye
Land at Kerrow Burn, Access Servitude
23 November 2009


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Land at Binhill, Cairney
23 November 2009


West Argyll
Land for Additional Car Parking for Mull Rugby Club
3 December 2009


Inverness, Ross and Skye
Land at Viewfield Rd, Portree (Aros Centre)
23 December 2009


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Access Servitude Castlehill
29 December 2009


Scottish Lowlands
Birkhill, Auchlochan
30 December 2009


West Argyll
Land at Three Bridges
30 December 2009


Scottish Lowlands
Boghill, Auchlochan
26 January 2010


Tay
Land at Easter Dalguise, (Excambion)
27 January 2010


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Land at Old Merdrum
28 January 2010


Scottish Lowlands
Westoun
12 February 2010


Lochaber
House Site at Croft No 2, Bohuntin
8 March 2010


North Highland
Sibster Farmhouse
11 March 2010


Cowal and Trossachs
Matheson Lane, Innellan
18 March 2010


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Land at Badgers Rest, North Acquitie
29 March 2010


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Wood of Balchers
1 April 2010


West Argyll
Three Bridges
26 April 2010


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Kinnoir (Lot 3-Lodgewood)
27 April 2010


West Argyll
Balinoe Plantation
5 May 2010


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Kinnoir (Lot 3-Bogenspro and Fourman Hill))
26 May 2010


Cowal and Trossachs
Clachaig
9 July 2010


Tay
Camusericht
12 July 2010


West Argyll
Glen Forsa
19 July 2010


Dumfries and Borders
Land at Burnfoot, Westerhall
17 September 2010


Scottish Lowlands
Devilla Sawmill Site
12 October 2010


West Argyll
Auch (South)
18 October 2010


West Argyll
Mungosdail
20 October 2010


North Highland
Ledmore
13 January 2011


North Highland
Rumster Plantation (LLCCDC)
1 February 2011


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Balfour Wood
25 May 2010


North Highland
Dyke Plantation (Tranche 1)
2 March 2011


Lochaber
Stronmilchan Common Grazings
20 July 2010


North Highland
Land at Quebec Bridge
10 April 2010


North Highland
Land at Gravity Bridge
27 April 2010


Inverness, Ross and Skye
Land at Woodside Cottage, Stromeferry
5 May 2010


Inverness, Ross and Skye
Mullans Wood, Tore (Standard Security Discharge)
5 May 2010


Inverness, Ross and Skye
Aigas Excambion
7 May 2010


Scottish Lowlands
Johnshill, (Auchlochan)
19 May 2010


Moray and Aberdeenshire
Cloddymoss Classroom
10 June 2010


Tay
Land at Inch Cottage, Dunkeld
14 June 2010


Scottish Lowlands
Hillside, (Auchlochan)
16 June 2010


Tay
Drumlinn and Dalvatten Cottages - Excambion (Water and Access Serv)
30 June 2010


West Argyll
Site for Pumping Station, Ford
9 July 2010


North Highland
Land at Grudie Bridge, Achany
23 August 2010


Inverness, Ross and Skye
Balcladaich Sawmill
6 October 2010


Lochaber
3 Morven Crescent
8 October 2010


Moray and Aberdeenshire
A96 Newtongarry Climbing Lane
10 November 2010


Cowal and Trossachs
Land at Argyll Sawmill, Strachur
10 November 2010


West Argyll
NWMCWC - Access Servitude
17 November 2010


Inverness, Ross and Skye
Beauly-Denny O/H Power Line
22 November 2010


Cowal and Trossachs
Donich Park, Lochgoilhead (Servitude)
12 January 2011


Scottish Lowlands
Knowehead Cottage, (Boundary Adjustment)
12 January 2011


North Highland
3 Blackwater Cottages (Servitude)
22 February 2011

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the funds raised through sales of woodland by Forestry Commission Scotland’s reprovisioning exercise has been reinvested in purchasing commercially viable land since 2009.

Roseanna Cunningham: The total disposal income since 1 April 2009 is £27,771,204, with the amount reinvested in purchase price of properties of £8,107,591 equates to 29.2%. We expect the figures to be 40% by the end of March 2011.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the funds raised through renewable projects in the national forest estate has been reinvested in purchasing commercially viable land.

Roseanna Cunningham: The recently announced renewables projects on the national forest estate are not yet producing income. Forestry Commission Scotland has, however, through its repositioning programme been buying land suitable for planting. Since 2005 it has acquired 18,574 hectares.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it takes to assess the (a) economic and (b) environmental impact of replacing commercial woodland in the national forestry estate with wind energy projects and what mechanisms there are to ensure the long-term sustainable management of the estate.

Roseanna Cunningham: Forest Enterprise Scotland is committed to maintaining annual timber production from the national forest estate at a sustainable level of between 3.3 and 3.5 million cubic metres per year. This guarantee of a stable and predictable timber supply helps to maintain confidence and sustain jobs in the timber harvesting, haulage and processing sectors. Forest Enterprise Scotland will therefore seek to maintain the productivity of the national forest estate by ensuring that potential timber production lost through removal of woodland for wind farms will be replaced by the creation of new productive woodlands through compensatory planting. In doing so, a broad assessment of future timber/carbon equivalence will be undertaken, this allowing for any forest re-design necessary for compliance with the UK Forestry Standard.

  The environmental impact of woodland removal is assessed through Environmental Impact Assessments undertaken as part of the development management process, this being further informed by the Scottish Government’s policy on control of woodland removal - www.forestry.gov.uk/woodlandremoval.

  The requirements for sustainable forest management are set out in the UK Forestry Standard and are embodied in the Scottish Government’s Scottish Forestry Strategy. In turn, the National Forest Estate Strategic Plan (2009-13), sets out how Forest Enterprise Scotland will implement the Scottish Forestry Strategy, seeking to balance the delivery of its social, economic and environmental objectives. Achievement of such sustainable forest management on the national forest estate is verified through independent certification against the internationally recognised UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS).

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is legislation or guidance on (a) it and (b) its agencies maintaining a commercially viable national forest estate that sustains direct employment and timber processing companies.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Forestry Act requires the Forestry Commission to promote the interests of forestry, the development of afforestation and the production and supply of timber and other forest products in Scotland. It is also required to endeavour to achieve a reasonable balance between the development of afforestation, the management of forests and the production and supply of timber and the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty and the conservation of flora, fauna and geological or physiographical features of special interest.

  The Scottish Forestry Strategy sets out the Scottish Government’s approach to the development of the forestry sector. One of the key outcomes sought is the development of innovative and competitive businesses which contribute to the growth of the Scottish economy. The National Forest Estate Strategic Plan, which was produced following a public consultation exercise, covers the period 2009-13 and sets out how Forest Enterprise Scotland will seek to balance the delivery of its social, economic and environmental objectives. This includes a commitment to maintain annual timber production from the estate at a sustainable level of between 3.3 and 3.5 million cubic metres per year. This guarantee of a stable and predictable timber supply helps to maintain confidence and sustain jobs, in the timber harvesting, haulage and processing sectors.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the reported view of the timber industry that the national forest estate provides significant economic wealth for communities in terms of direct employment and support to timber processing companies, and what measures it is taking to ensure that competing land uses are balanced in the long term.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution that the national forest estate makes to the delivery of social, economic and environmental outcomes, including the provision of employment and support for timber processing companies. Forestry is worth around £700 million to the Scottish economy every year and Scotland’s forests support over 30,000 jobs, mostly in rural areas.

  The Scottish Government also recognises the need to seek an appropriate mixture of land uses in order to develop a diverse and resilient rural economy. This government is the first to embark upon production of a Land Use Strategy for Scotland. The strategy, which will shortly be laid before the Scottish Parliament, sets out proposals and policies for the long-term sustainable use of Scotland’s land resource and will provide a framework within which discussions aimed at determining the optimum mix of land uses in Scotland can take place.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects Forestry Commission Scotland to complete (a) an environmental and (b) a habitats regulations assessment of plans to develop renewable energy projects on its estate.

Roseanna Cunningham: All proposed sites are subject to planning regulations, which include an assessment of environmental impact and where appropriate a full Environmental Impact Assessment and/or Habitat Regulations Appraisal.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that Forestry Commission Scotland retains and develops its research capability in order to support the protection and enhancement of Scotland’s wildlife, historic environment, landscape and public access.

Roseanna Cunningham: The majority of the research capability required to support the development of forestry policy in Scotland is provided by the Forestry Commission’s Forest Research Agency. By the agreement of forestry ministers in England, Scotland and Wales, the Research Agency is a GB-wide organisation which is funded by the Westminster Government. FC Scotland is a member of the Research Strategy Management Board which determines research priorities. Through Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish ministers will continue to press for a programme of research which meets Scotland’s needs, while retaining the ability to fund research directly, to supplement the programme delivered by the Forest Research Agency.

Forestry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what duties and roles the Forestry Commission’s Regional Advisory Committee for Scotland has in protecting and enhancing Scotland’s wildlife, historic environment, landscape and public access.

Roseanna Cunningham: The role of the Regional Advisory Committee in Scotland is to adjudicate on disputed applications for grants or felling licences and in the case of unresolved objections from statutory consultees to the contents of Forest Enterprise Scotland’s forest design plans.

  FC Scotland also has five Regional Advisory Forums comprising a range of relevant stakeholder representatives. These Fora provide general advice to FCS on national and local issues.

General Register Office for Scotland

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are being made for the amalgamation of the General Register Office for Scotland and the National Archives of Scotland.

Fiona Hyslop: In Scotland’s Spending Plans and Draft Budget 2011-12 last November, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth announced the amalgamation of the General Register Office for Scotland and the National Archives of Scotland, as part of our programme to simplify and streamline Scottish public bodies. The amalgamation will take place on 1 April 2011. The new body will be called the National Records of Scotland and will report to me. Because it will play an important part in the economic life of Scotland, the Minister for Enterprise and Tourism will also be involved in the work of the new body. The statutory duties of the Registrar General and the Keeper of the Records will be unchanged.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the number of older people who died in hospital while deemed medically fit for discharge and awaiting a care package in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010 and have died in 2011.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally but from April 2011 a new dedicated information system will be fully operational.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the outcome of the review by the medical director of NHS Fife of the 93 patients who died in hospital after being deemed medically fit for discharge in 2010.

Shona Robison: This is a matter for NHS Fife. The Medical Director has said that he will review the circumstances and his findings will be reported to the board through the Clinical Governance Committee.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all medical directors of NHS boards will review the circumstances of all older patients who died in their hospitals after being deemed medically fit for discharge in 2010.

Shona Robison: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing wrote to all NHS board chairs on 10 February 2011 asking them that, when a patient has been deemed fit for discharge and subsequently dies before the discharge can take place, the board medical director ensures the circumstances are reviewed and reported to boards as part of their clinical governance arrangements.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the MRSA Screening Pathfinder Programme Final Report Volume 1: An Investigation of the Clinical Effectiveness of Universal MRSA Screening was delivered in December 2009 but published in February 2011 and, if this was an error on the published document, what the actual date of delivery was.

Nicola Sturgeon: The report of the outcome of the MRSA screening study was delivered in December 2009. However, additional studies were being undertaken to consider the efficacy of nasal swabbing as a screening tool; and transmission through admission and discharge screening. The findings of these were used to inform policy direction. The related special studies reports were delivered in October 2010; and the National MRSA Programme Board advised that further work was required to interrogate and test the robustness of the special studies data.

  It was important to consider all available evidence, including the recommendations of both the MRSA Programme Board and the HAI Taskforce, before any policy decision on the future direction of universal screening was taken, hence the delay between delivery and publication of this report.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) sensitivity and (b) specificity was of the laboratory method used in the MRSA pilot screening project.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland has advised that chromogenic agar has a reported sensitivity of (0.98) . Specificity was not used as a parameter

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what further research of staff screening will be undertaken following the MRSA pilot screening project.

Nicola Sturgeon: The recommendations for further research into the screening of staff are as highlighted in section 13 of NHS Scotland MRSA Screening Pathfinder Programme Final Report Volume 3: Staff Patient Acceptability .

  These have been shared with the Scottish Infection Research Network ensuring that the academic community are engaged with these discussions and will be considered by the HAI Task Force.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what risk factors were found in those patients with MRSA infections who screened negative in the MRSA pilot screening project.

Nicola Sturgeon: The study did not highlight these risk factors.

  The single most important risk factor for infection was colonisation at the point of admission. Other risk factors included the specialty admitted to.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will (a) conclude and (b) report on the further special study in the MRSA pilot screening project on the risk of colonisation and how it will judge the possibility of a substitute or partial substitute for screening.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland published the reports on the clinical risk assessment study along with the study on acquisition / loss of MRSA colonisation during hospital admission on 23 February 2011. These reports are available at:

  http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/mrsa-screening/pathfinder-programme/mrsa-pathfinder-discharge-2011-02-23.pdf.

  On 23 February 2011, I announced that the revised policy for MRSA screening in acute hospitals would comprise a two-stage process involving first-line screening using a clinical risk assessment, followed by swab-based second-line screening test for those identified as being at higher risk of MRSA colonisation.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assumptions were made in the health technology assessment (HTA) model used in the MRSA screening study that were not observed in practice.

Nicola Sturgeon: The main parameters which differed in practice from the assumed parameters within the HTA model were:

  the proportion of patients attending pre-admission clinics within each age group;

  the percentage of patients going to high and low risk specialty wards;

  hospital prevalence at the start of the model, and

  infection rate and length of stay.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the risks of increased mupirocin consumption and resistance that might result from a Scotland-wide MRSA screening programme on admission to hospital and of staff.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland has advised that current monitoring by the Scottish MRSA Reference Laboratory indicates no significant increase in mupirocin resistance within the Pathfinder boards.

  This will be continued to be monitored.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the report on the MRSA Screening Pathfinder Programme has been or will be subject to peer review.

Nicola Sturgeon: Yes, the reports on the Pathfinder Programme were   subject to peer review by the appropriate working group; the MRSA Programme Board; and external experts.

  Each report was reviewed according to HPS Quality Assurance protocol.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the estimates of the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland health technology assessment economic model assumptions in the report on the MRSA Screening Pathfinder Programme have been or will be subject to peer review.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland has advised that the estimates for assumptions made within the NHS QIS Health Technology Assessment (HTA) model were peer reviewed and underwent public consultation according to NHS QIS process for the production of HTAs.

  Many of the estimates made in the original modelling process have in fact been confirmed by subsequent data drawn from the Pathfinder Programme and the special studies.

  The information subsequently used in the MRSA Screening Pathfinder version of the model was derived from the Pathfinder Study.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what independent evaluation of the findings in the report on the MRSA Screening Pathfinder Programme will be undertaken before proceeding to any roll-out of the programme.

Nicola Sturgeon: The MRSA programme board evaluated and debated the findings and made a recommendation to the HAI Task Force on future direction for MRSA screening in NHSScotland.

  The HAI Task Force then further evaluated the findings of the Pathfinder Programme and debated the recommendation from the programme board before endorsing its recommendations for future policy.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the confidence intervals are for the predicted reductions in MRSA colonisation prevalence and infection incidence associated with MRSA laboratory test-based screening.

Nicola Sturgeon: Confidence intervals around the infection estimates are detailed for tertiary referral hospitals in the economic analyses report on page 14 in table 8-1; and for large general hospitals in the economic analyses report on page 15 in table 8-2 at:

  http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/mrsa-screening/pathfinder-programme/mrsa-pathfinder-economic-2011-02-23

  Health Protection Scotland (HPS) has provided the following information:

  Number of Infections Five Years after Implementation of Strategy Showing Confidence Intervals for Each Estimate:

  

Hospital Type
Strategy
Cases Predicted in Year Five
ConfidenceInterval


Tertiary Referral
Do Nothing
512
426,592


Universal Nasal Screen
282
191,366


Clinical Risk Assessment (CRA)
322
235,366


CRA plus High Impact Specialties
303
211,392


Large General
Do Nothing
111
88,134


Universal Nasal Screen
71
47,94


CRA
85
62,94


CRA plus High Impact Specialties
78
55,102

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the likely (a) costs and (b) savings are in rolling out a Scotland-wide MRSA screening programme for hospital admissions.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland advises that the report indicates that the revised Scotland-wide MRSA screening programme will be cost effective, with the cost per quality adjusted life year saved being modest in comparison with many other accepted healthcare interventions.

  Model projections indicate costs for the clinical risk assessment screening approach plus swab-based screening of high impact specialties are half that of universal nasal swab-based screening, which was estimated to be £15 million in the health technology assessment.

  In terms of rollout we anticipate the cost to be in the range between £2.8 and £4.9 million in NHS Scotland.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) risks and (b) benefits are of rolling out a Scotland-wide MRSA screening programme for hospital admissions.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland has advised that the principal anticipated benefit of the screening programme is a reduction in MRSA infections in acute hospitals. MRSA infection has a negative impact on quality of life and length of stay in hospital, therefore lowering of colonisation rates reduces the risk of infection in the patient population.

  The use of clinical risk assessment also allows pre-emptive management of patients identified as being at higher risk of MRSA colonisation in anticipation of laboratory results being available, thereby reducing the risks of transmission to other patients.

  Continuing study of the epidemiology of MRSA colonisation and infection will be required.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what modelling it has done as to (a) whether and (b) when a full MRSA screening programme for hospital admissions could result in low endemic proportions of MRSA so that a search and destroy strategy could be employed and what cost savings could be made by such a change in approach.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland has advised the health technology assessment model projected a reduction within five years of implementing screening to a level of very low endemic prevalence (<1%).

  Continued monitoring of MRSA prevalence will be required as part of the assessment of the national screening programme’s performance in practice.

Higher Education

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how the recently announced university status for the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) will progress and develop in light of reductions in funding for the North Highland College part of UHI.

Michael Russell: The difficult decisions colleges, including those serving the Highlands and Islands, are now being obliged to take to balance their own budgets for next year derive directly from Westminster’s cut of £1.3 billion in the Scottish block grant. We have asked colleges to proceed in a way which minimises impact on the learner and which avoids, wherever possible, compulsory redundancies.

  Ministers were delighted to see the University of the Highlands and Islands gain university status and look forward, despite the challenges of next year’s budget reductions, to seeing the institution flourish.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-39113 by Alex Neil on 7 February 2011, what the estimated cost is of guaranteeing the loan finance of local authorities involved in the first tranche of National Housing Trust houses.

Alex Neil: Based on modelling by the Scottish Futures Trust, with input from the Scottish Government, it is currently estimated that the cost of guaranteeing the loan finance of local authorities involved in the first tranche of the National Housing Trust initiative (NHT) will be approximately £2,500 per unit. The actual level of funding set aside to support the scheme will depend on the number and details of the homes supported through the first phase of procurement, and the financial assessments of developments at the point they are finally approved to proceed.

Justice

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of rape have been recorded by police in Tayside in each of the last 10 years.

Kenny MacAskill: Crimes of rape recorded by the police in Tayside police force area, 2000-01 to 2009-10:

  

 
Tayside


2000-01
58


2001-02
60


2002-03
83


2003-04
59


2004-05
63


2005-06
90


2006-07
58


2007-08
55


2008-09
54


2009-10
38

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37562 by Fergus Ewing on 26 November 2010, how many people were (a) prosecuted, (b) convicted and (c) given a custodial sentence in cases involving domestic abuse in 2009-10, broken down by police force area.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34679 by Kenny MacAskill on 9 July 2010, how many people were convicted for an offence with a domestic aggravator in 2009-10, broken down by police force area.

Fergus Ewing: Information on offence aggravations have been published and classified as "data being developed" alongside the 2009-10 Criminal Proceedings in Scotland statistical bulletin and therefore extreme caution needs to be applied to these figures.

  They are initial results of a testing phase and are not fully developed. It is important that users clearly understand the status of these series and apply caution to the results, particularly when comparing results across time or geographically.

  We are planning work to increase our understanding of offence aggravations data and to assess and attempt to improve the consistency of recording of the data. It is anticipated that this work will be completed during 2011. An update and full details of any changes will be provided with publication of the 2010-11 Criminal Proceedings Bulletin. More details are available here:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/Datasets/CrimProcDatDev.

  The available information on domestic abuse aggravations is given in the following table. Sentencing decisions are made by the judiciary based on all the facts and circumstances of the offence and offender.

  Persons proceeded against, convicted and sentenced to custody, for an offence with a domestic aggravator recorded1, 2009-10:

  

Police Force
2009-10


Central
 


Proceeded against
621


Convicted
542


Custodial sentence
42


Dumfries and Galloway
 


Proceeded against
248


Convicted
215


Custodial sentence
30


Fife
 


Proceeded against
512


Convicted
447


Custodial sentence
34


Grampian
 


Proceeded against
839


Convicted
748


Custodial sentence
35


Lothian and Borders
 


Proceeded against
948


Convicted
845


Custodial sentence
95


Northern
 


Proceeded against
403


Convicted
354


Custodial sentence
37


Strathclyde
 


Proceeded against
6,136


Convicted
5,194


Custodial sentence
619


Tayside
 


Proceeded against
552


Convicted
492


Custodial sentence
57


Scotland
 


Proceeded against
10,259


Convicted
8,837


Custodial sentence
949



  Note: 1. The recording of aggravators has improved over time, therefore caution is needed when comparing changes over time and geographically. Information on offence aggravations have been published as "data being developed" alongside the 2009-10 Criminal Proceedings in Scotland statistical bulletin.

Justice

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether growing concerns have been brought to its attention regarding internet begging.

Alex Neil: Concerns regarding internet begging have not been brought to the Scottish Government’s attention.

Justice

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital admissions due to assault by sharp object there were between 1 April 2010 and 31 January 2011, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on hospital admissions due to assault by sharp object is not yet available for the time period requested. Statistics for the 2010-11 financial year will be published in September. Provisional data may be available earlier in the summer.

Justice

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes of handling an offensive weapon were reported between 1 April 2010 and 31 January 2011, broken down by (a) type of crime and (b) police board area.

Kenny MacAskill: The statistical bulletin Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2010-11 is scheduled for publication in September 2011. Under the Pre-release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Order 2008, the requested data will not be available until the day of publication.

  The dates of all Scottish Government Official and National Statistics publications are pre-announced, and the up to date list of future publications can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Search/Forthcoming.

Marine Environment

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers the impact has been of the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999 was controversially made under section 126(2) of the Scotland Act 1998, as part of the devolution settlement, in order to establish a boundary between the waters within British fishery limits that are adjacent to Scotland, and those that are adjacent to other parts of the United Kingdom, most notably in relation to sea fisheries. The boundaries set out in the Order were replicated in the Renewable Energy Zone (Designation of Area) (Scottish Ministers) Order 2005, and later used to define the "Scottish Marine Area" in the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Marine Environment

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the North Sea sector boundary between Scotland and England as defined in the Scottish Adjacent Water Boundaries Order 1999.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Executive approached the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in 2009 seeking a review of the boundary. At that time Defra indicated that they had no plans to review the boundary.

Medication

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made a submission to the UK Department of Health consultation, A new value-based approach to the pricing of branded medicines , and, if so, whether it will place a copy in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Shona Robison: The public consultation A new value-based approach to the pricing of branded medicines is still live and will close on 17 March 2011.

  Along with the other Devolved Administrations and key stakeholders, Scottish Government officials will be fully involved in developing the new arrangements taking into account responses to the consultation. In these circumstances it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to submit a formal response to the consultation.

Medication

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Medicines Consortium has made a submission to the UK Department of Health consultation, A new value-based approach to the pricing of branded medicines , and, if so, whether it will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Medicines Consortium is independent of Scottish Government.

  Responses to the consultation A new value-based approach to the pricing of branded medicines are requested by 17 March 2011. Responses will be submitted directly to the Department of Health.

Mental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hits the Choose Life website has received in each six-month period since July 2008.

Shona Robison: Please see following table:

  Hits on chooselife.net from July 2008

  


July to December 2008
January to June 2009
July to December 2009
January to June 2010
July to December 2010


103,756
97,360
113,698
144,342
179,093

NHS Equipment

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the wheelchair and seating services modernisation programme will use goal attainment scaling to identify unmet need, particularly for those people who would benefit from attendant-controlled powered wheelchairs but do not meet the criteria for the pilot.

Nicola Sturgeon: Goal attainment score is an outcome measurement system currently being trialled locally by NHS wheelchair services, and is not a specific element of the Scottish Government’s modernisation action plan.

  Clinical Standards for NHS wheelchair services are currently being finalised after a period of public consultation. Draft Standard 1, Essential Criteria 1.1 states that "clinical assessments of mobility and mobility needs are person-centred and anticipatory".

NHS Equipment

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what commitment there is to fund the wheelchair and seating services modernisation programme after the current funding commitment expires.

Nicola Sturgeon: By the end of 2011-12, the Scottish Government will have invested the £16 million committed to support the modernisation programme for NHS Scotland’s wheelchair and seating services.

  Beyond the requirements of the modernisation programme, it is a matter for NHS boards to determine the funding required to sustain wheelchair and seating services to meet the needs of their resident populations.

NHS Hospitals

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what companies were involved in the proposed development of a continuing care facility at Blawarthill Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: J Walker (Leith) Limited were the developers contracted for the construction of the Blawarthill project.

NHS Services

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason NHS Scotland Wheelchair and Seating Services - Clinical Standards Consultation does not include a mobility plan for users or carers who are to be assessed for the optimum equipment.

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason NHS Scotland Wheelchair and Seating Services - Clinical Standards Consultation does not refer to a mobility plan forming part of the agreement with the user or carer.

Nicola Sturgeon: Draft Standard 1, Essential Criteria 1.8 states that "wheelchair need is recorded within the mobility section of the Single Shared Assessment when this assessment is used".

  Responsibility for individual mobility plans, which include wider aspects of social care alongside wheelchair provision, does not rest solely with NHS wheelchair services.

NHS Services

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason NHS Scotland Wheelchair and Seating Services - Clinical Standards Consultation does not refer to the right to a second opinion arising from an appeal.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Scotland Wheelchair and Seating Services are already fully compliant with NHS policy regarding the right to a second opinion.

NHS Services

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason NHS Scotland Wheelchair and Seating Services - Clinical Standards Consultation does not refer to complaints procedures.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Scotland Wheelchair and Seating Services are already fully compliant with NHS complaints procedures.

NHS Services

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHS Scotland Wheelchair and Seating Services - Clinical Standards Consultation will invite responses from those users, carers and voluntary sector representatives who were represented by the Wheelchair and Seating Services Project Board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The draft clinical standards were released for a 12 week period of public consultation, which closed on 25 February 2011. All members of the Wheelchair and Seating Services Project Board were included in the distribution of consultation documents, which are also freely available on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/12/06095313/0.

National Health Service

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration NHSScotland gives to the cost when procuring implantable medical devices.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division (NPD) is NHSScotland’s centre of procurement expertise. In considering the procurement of implantable medical devices, NPD adopts the same principles it applies to the procurement of all other commodities ensuring; cost improvements and efficiency savings; products and services are fit for purpose and of top quality; current and future generations of NHS products remain up to date and valid; an effective supply service, reducing stockpiling and wastage and improving timely distribution and; continued quality assurance.

  Cost is one of the most significant contributions to the value of a contract, however, when considering a contract such as for medical devices, there are many other components of value. These include fitness for purpose, whole life costs and consumables, and any cost of change.

National Health Service

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration NHSScotland gives to (a) operational lifetime and (b) period of manufacturer’s guarantee when weighing up the cost of acquiring implantable medical devices.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division (NPD) is NHSScotland’s centre of procurement expertise. In considering the operational lifetime and period of manufacturer’s guarantee, NPD ensures that whole life costs of the commodity are taken fully into account at the evaluation stage. Consideration of a contract for a medical device takes into account both the anticipated life of the device, as anticipated by the manufacturers and clinical experts, and the period of manufacturer’s guarantee.

National Health Service

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that medical devices should be procured primarily on the basis of cost and, if so, how this impacts on its commitment to the adoption of innovation by NHSScotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division (NPD) is NHSScotland’s centre of procurement expertise. In considering the procurement of medical devices, NPD takes into account a range of factors to ensure it delivers value for money to NHSScotland through effective procurement.

  An innovative device need not necessarily be more expensive than the product it is replacing and the use of healthy competition in the contracting process ensures that there is an opportunity for new products to come to the market. Where NPD is aware of new technologies likely to come to market in the near future it is able to adjust its normal contract period to reflect the state of the market and the emergence of product enhancements.

Oil

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much oil from Scottish territorial waters has been landed at each terminal in Scotland in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Mather: The information requested is published by the Department for Energy and Climate Change and can be found on their website at the following link:

  https://www.og.decc.gov.uk/information/info_strategy/index.htm.

Oil

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much gas from Scottish territorial waters has been landed at each terminal in Scotland in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Mather: The Department for Energy and Climate Change publish data on gas received at terminals in the UK which can be found on their website at the following link:

  https://www.og.decc.gov.uk/information/info_strategy/index.htm.

  There is no gas produced in Scottish territorial waters.

Planning

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether individuals whose land has been devalued as a result of planning decisions are eligible to apply for compensation.

John Swinney: In general, compensation is not due where planning permission is granted or refused. However, provisions, in specified circumstances, allow for compensation to be paid to owners whose land has been devalued as a result of planning decisions. The nature of such compensation and the circumstances in which is to be paid will depend on the particulars of the individual case.

Prison Service

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners in each prison have been granted home leave in each year since December 2006, broken down by number of days granted.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Home leave is generally granted as part of the preparation of prisoners for release. The vast majority of home leaves are therefore granted from HMP Cornton Vale, HMP Open Estate and HMYOI Polmont. There are occasional home leaves granted from other parts of the prison estate, but these are not recorded separately.

  The table below shows how many prisoners in each of these prisons have been granted home leave in each calendar year since December 2006 broken down by the number of days granted. Individual prisoners may have been granted home leave on more than one occasion during this period.

  

 
 
Home Leave 1 Day
Home Leave 2 Days
Home Leave 3 Days
Home Leave 4 Days
Home Leave 5 Days
Home Leave6 Days
Home Leave 7 Days
Totals


Cornton Vale
2007
 
12
37
 
32
 
 
81


 
2008
 
2
4
 
2
 
47
55


 
2009
 
3
1
2
2
 
41
49


 
2010
5
7
8
3
4
1
28
56


Open Estate
2007
 
336
298
 
213
369
716
1932


 
2008
 
53
19
 
53
 
731
856


 
2009
19
31
55
40
41
5
551
742


 
2010
20
21
93
145
57
9
497
842


Polmont
2007
 
6
 
 
2
 
 
8


 
2008
 
 
2
 
 
 
 
2


 
2009
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


 
2010
 
1
4
4
1
 
 
10


Totals
 
44
472
521
194
407
384
2611
4,633

Rape

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of rape were recorded in each police force area in 2009-10.

Kenny MacAskill: Crimes of rape recorded by the police, 2009-10, by police force area.

  

Police Force Area
Recorded Crimes


Central
47


Dumfries and Galloway
15


Fife
92


Grampian
111


Lothian and Borders
173


Northern
50


Strathclyde
358


Tayside
38


Scotland
884

Rape

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were (a) prosecuted, (b) convicted and (c) given a custodial sentence in cases involving rape in 2009-10, broken down by police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.

  Persons proceeded against for rape1 in 2009-10, by police force area:

  

Police Force Area
Proceeded Against
Convicted
Custodial Sentence


Central
3
1
1


Dumfries and Galloway
3
2
2


Fife
4
0
0


Grampian
11
4
4


Lothian and Borders
16
6
6


Northern
6
2
2


Strathclyde2
43
23
21


Tayside
5
2
2


Unknown
1
1
1


Scotland2
92
41
39



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Two persons received a guardianship order; a court appointment which authorises a person to take action or make decisions on behalf of an adult with incapacity.

Rape

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how Scotland’s rape conviction rate compares with other countries.

Kenny MacAskill: Information on conviction rates in Scotland can be found in Conviction Rates for Rape Charges Reported: 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 published by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in July 2010. It can be obtained at:

  http://www.copfs.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Publications/Resource/Doc/13547/0000632.pdf.The Scottish Government does not generally publish data on international comparisons with regard to criminal statistics due to the difficulties in making such comparisons.

Renewable Energy

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects Scottish Water to complete (a) an environmental and (b) a habitats regulations assessment of plans to develop renewable energy projects on its estate.

Roseanna Cunningham: This information is not held centrally and I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Water to reply to you

Renewable Energy

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether meetings have taken place between ministers or officials and representatives of Forth Energy, Scottish and Southern Energy plc and Forth Ports plc regarding proposals for large-scale biomass plants and, if so, (a) on what dates, (b) who attended and (c) what matters were discussed.

Jim Mather: In order to ensure that all material issues are considered, and Scottish ministers are in possession of all the information they require to determine applications, Scottish Government officials have met with Forth Energy and their representatives, on 25 occasions since we became aware of the proposals.

  

Date
Title
Attendees
Topic of Discussion


1
18-11-09
Forth Energy - Biomass Plant Review Session
Calum Wilson (FE), Michaela Sullivan (FE), Derek McGlashan (FE), Tony Traynor (FE), Sue Kearns (SG), Christine McKay (SG), Debbie McCall (SG), Lesley McNeil (SG), Ian Renwick (SNH), Erica Knott (SNH), Cecile Smith (SNH), Lynne Bunton (SEPA)
Process for s36 application and timetable for submission.


2
13-01-10
Forth Energy – Scoping Projects
Michaela Sullivan (FE), David Bell (JLL), Lesley McNeil (SG)
Process for the submission of s36 Scoping Reports.


3
15-03-10
Biomass Stakeholder Engagement Meeting
Kevin Ryan (CEC), Ian Dryden (FC), Ian Ross (DCC), Angus Dodds (FC), Cameron Maxwell (FCS), Angela Burke (SEPA), Erica Knott (SNH), Simon Bonsall (SG), Michaela Sullivan (FE), Derek McGlashan (FE), Helen Wood (SG), Chris Wilcock (SG), Simon Coote (SG), Lorraine Brown (SG), Lesley McNeil (SG), Paul Smith (SG).
Process for considering four large-scale biomass plants across Scotland.


4
26-04-10
Forth Energy – Project Catch-Up
Lesley McNeil (SG), Michaela Sullivan (FE), Craig Wallace-David Bell (JLL)
Progress on the processing of the Forth Energy applications.


5
29-04-10
Biomass Stakeholder Engagement Meeting
Kevin Ryan (CEC), Ian Dryden (FC), Ian Ross (DCC), Angus Dodds (FC), Cameron Maxwell (FCS), Angela Burke (SEPA), Erica Knott (SNH), Simon Bonsall (SG), Michaela Sullivan (FE), Derek McGlashan (FE), Helen Wood (SG), Chris Wilcock (SG), Simon Coote (SG), Lorraine Brown (SG), Lesley McNeil (SG), Paul Smith (SG).
Process for considering four large-scale biomass plants across Scotland.


6
10-05-10
Forth Energy – Project Catch-Up
Lesley McNeil (SG), Michaela Sullivan (FE), Craig Wallace-David Bell (JLL)
Progress on the processing of the Forth Energy applications.


7
24-05-10
Forth Energy – Project Catch-Up
Lesley McNeil (SG), Michaela Sullivan (FE), Craig Wallace-David Bell (JLL)
Progress on the processing of the Forth Energy applications.


8
07-06-10
Forth Energy – Project Catch-Up
Lesley McNeil (SG), Michaela Sullivan (FE), Craig Wallace-David Bell (JLL)
Progress on the processing of the Forth Energy applications.


9
08-06-10
Forth Energy – Dundee Gatecheck
Steven Black (JLL), Kay Griffin (FE), Michaela Sullivan (FE) Derek McGlashan (FE), Angela Burke (SEPA), Fiona Johnstone (SEPA), Stuart Anderson (SEPA) Iain Ross (DCC), Rachel Brooks (DCC), Erica Knott (SNH), Simon Coote (SG), Lesley McNeil (SG) 
Gatechecking of the Dundee Biomass application


10
18-06-10
Forth Energy – Project Catch-Up
Lesley McNeil (SG), Michaela Sullivan (FE), Craig Wallace-David Bell (JLL)
Progress on the processing of the Forth Energy applications.


11
22-06-10
A+DS Design Review for Biomass Plants
Lesley McNeil (SG), Lorraine Brown (SG) plus various other parties. 
Design review by Architecture and Design Scotland of the four biomass plant proposals.


12
08-07-10
Biomass Policy Event
Various parties from energy, environmental etc sectors
Biomass Policy discussions


13
09-07-10
Forth Energy – Biomass policy discussion
Doug Coleman (FE), Jamie Hume (SG)
Biomass policy and the use of heat


14
12-07-10
Forth Energy – Project Catch-Up
Lesley McNeil (SG), Michaela Sullivan (FE), Doug Coleman (FE), Craig Wallace-David Bell (JLL)
Progress on the processing of the Forth Energy applications.


15
03-08-10
Forth Energy – Project Catch-Up
Lesley McNeil (SG), Michaela Sullivan (FE), Craig Wallace-David Bell (JLL)
Progress on the processing of the Forth Energy applications.


16
04-08-10
Forth Energy – Grangemouth Gatecheck
Christine McKay (SG), Niall Corbett (SNH), Michaela Sullivan (FE), Craig Wallace (JLL), Erica Knott (SNH), Owen Foster (SEPA), Katrina Chalmers (SG). ; 
Gatechecking of the Grangemouth application


17
17-08-10
Forth Energy – Site Visit to Leith and Grangemouth
Joyce Melrose (SG), Magnus Hughson (SG), Theresa McInnes (SG), Marian Deeney (SG), Debbie Flaherty (SG) plus various representatives from City of Edinburgh Council, Falkirk Council, SEPA, SNH and Forth Energy.
Site inspection for two of the four proposed sites.


18
07-09-10
Forth Energy – Project Catch-Up
Lesley McNeil (SG), Michaela Sullivan (FE), Craig Wallace-David Bell (JLL)
Progress on the processing of the Forth Energy applications.


19
09-09-10
Forth Energy – Rosyth Plant Gatecheck
Angus Dodds (FC), Lesley McNeil (SG), Derek McGlashan (FE), Michaela Sullivan (FE)
Gatechecking of the Rosyth application.


20
07-10-10
Forth Energy – Project Catch-Up
Lesley McNeil (SG), Michaela Sullivan (FE), Craig Wallace-David Bell (JLL)
Progress on the processing of the Forth Energy applications.


21
05-11-10
Forth Energy – Project Catch-Up
Lesley McNeil (SG), Michaela Sullivan (FE), Craig Wallace-David Bell (JLL)
Progress on the processing of the Forth Energy applications.


22
25-11-10
Forth Energy – Leith Gatecheck
Lesley McNeil (SG, Michaela Sullivan (FE), Derek McGlashan, Kevin Ryan (CEC)
Gatechecking the Leith application.


23
24-01-11
Dundee City Council Committee Meeting
Various.
Observing the debate at the Dundee City Council Planning Committee meeting.


24
28-01-11
Forth Energy – Project Catch-Up
Lesley McNeil (SG), Michaela Sullivan (FE), Doug Coleman (FE) and Callum Wilson (FE), Craig Wallace-David Bell (JLL)
Progress on the processing of the Forth Energy applications.


25
09-02-11
Meeting with Forth Ports and Forth Energy
Charles Hammond (FP), Callum Wilson (FE), David Wilson (SG), Sue Kearns (SG), Stuart McKay (SG)
Update on FE aspirations for renewables at their sites and on use of waste heat

Roads

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive wha

t the timeframe is for the Nairn bypass.

Keith Brown: This project, which is included within Intervention 22 of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR), will require many stages to be undertaken, including detailed design and development work before we can finalise the timescales for delivery.A timetable for delivering the Nairn bypass will be set in the context of overall affordability and our commitments to other STPR proposals.Early design work has commenced to identify preferred solutions for this project as part of our commitment to upgrade the A96.

Roads

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on preparations for the proposals for the improvements to the A75 from Hardgrove to Kinmount.

Keith Brown: Up to 31 March 2010, a total of £1.143 million has been spent on scheme preparation costs for the A75 Hardgrove to Kinmount Improvement. A further £0.547 million is anticipated this financial year.

Roads

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the condition of the A75 between Hardgrove and Kinmount was last examined and what the findings were.

Keith Brown: The A75 trunk road between Hardgrove and Kinmount is currently inspected every Tuesday. The inspection undertaken on 1 March found no actionable defects.

Roads

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what trunk road improvement schemes (a) have been completed since May 2007 and are (b) on-going.

Keith Brown: The current Motorway and Trunk Road programme on the Transport Scotland website, provides information on the schemes completed and the schemes under construction. http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/road/motorway-and-trunk-road-programme .

Schools

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) schools and (b) pre-schools have been awarded a green flag under the eco-schools programme in each financial year since the programme began.

Michael Russell: The number of schools and pre-schools awarded a Green Flag under the Eco-Schools programme in each financial year since the programme began in Scotland has been provided by Eco-Schools Scotland and is set out in the following table:

  

Financial Year
Schools*
Pre-Schools**


1994-95
0
0


1995-96
2
0


1996-97
1
0


1997-98
1
0


1998-99
2
1


1999-2000
5
0


2000-01
3
0


2001-02
4
0


2002-03
12
5


2003-04
31
5


2004-05
64
2


2005-06
89
15


2006-07
121
11


2007-08
172
14


2008-09
191
25


2009-10
173
26


2010 – 1 March 11
197
24


Total
1,068
128



  Notes:*Includes Primary, Secondary, Independent, Special and composite schools many of which include nursery classes.**Includes Nursery Schools (not nursery classes) and Early Years Partnership Providers.Information has only been included in respect of first Green Flags. Many schools have been award a second, third or fourth Green Flag in recent years, though the focus now will be on attaining and retaining the Green Flag rather than have multiple flags.The Eco-Schools programme is managed and administered by Eco-Schools Scotland which is part of Keep Scotland Beautiful, with funding from the Scottish Government.

Schools

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for its one-off grant available to schools with an eco-schools bronze, silver or green flag have been received in each financial year since the programme began.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for its one-off grant available to schools with an eco-schools bronze, silver or green flag have been successful in each financial year since the programme began.

Michael Russell: The one-off grant scheme is managed and administered by Eco-Schools Scotland and funded through the core grant from the Scottish Government.A one-off grant has been awarded by Eco-Schools Scotland to all schools which have attained their first Eco-Schools Scotland Award, irrespective of level (Bronze, Silver or Green Flag) and applied for the award. Schools are asked to provide an overview to Eco-Schools Scotland of how they plan to spend the grant. The number of applications for the grant is the same as the number awarded.Information on the number of one-off grants awarded by Eco-Schools Scotland in each financial year since the first grant in 2003-04 is provided in the following table:

  Number of one-off grants awarded by Eco-Schools Scotland

  

Financial Year
 


2003-04
204


2004-05
232


2005-06
309


2006-07
203


2007-08
461


2008-09
280


2009-10
271


2010 – 1 March 2011
128


Total
2,088



  A further 129 one-off grants are expected to be made before the end of March 2011.

Schools

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it has withdrawn the one-off grant available to schools with an eco-schools bronze, silver or green flag.

Michael Russell: The one-off grant scheme is managed and administered by Eco-Schools Scotland and funded through the core grant from the Scottish Government. Eco-Schools Scotland could continue to operate the one-off grant scheme but in the context of increasing demand for assessments and in order to make best use of their resources, the grant scheme has been suspended from 31 March 2011. Eco-Schools Scotland agreed this approach in consultation with the Eco-Schools Advisory Group which includes the Scottish Government.Eco-Schools is a highly successful programme and it is important that Eco-Schools Scotland have the operational flexibility to make best use of their resources.The Scottish Government has confirmed that core funding of £425,000 will be made available in 2011-12, which is the same level of funding as in 2010-11. The shows the Scottish Government’s commitment to Eco-Schools Scotland at a time of considerable financial pressures.

Schools

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) schools and (b) pre-schools has been awarded an eco-schools green flag.

Michael Russell: As at 1 March 2011, the percentage of establishments awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag is:(a) 38% of local authority schools including primary, secondary and special schools (b) 31% of local authority nursery schools and nursery classes. 19% of local authority or partnership pre-school education providers have been awarded a Green Flag.

Scottish Government Buildings

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it publishes statistics online of the daily energy use in its buildings and, if not, whether it will do so and, if so, when it will start.

John Swinney: The Government On Line Sustainable Performance Information Exchange (GOLSPIE), a web portal within www.scotland.gov.uk is under development and will publish daily energy consumption data. In line with our commitment in Conserve and Save: Energy Efficiency Action Plan we will start to publish this information in the spring. Copies of the Action Plan are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. Number 52545).

Scottish Government Staff

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its directorates or agencies employ staff on fixed-term contacts.

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its directorates or agencies employ staff on fixed-term contracts to avoid compulsory redundancies.

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its directorates or agencies employ staff on fixed-term contracts as an alternative to permanent contracts to carry out the same work.

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether staff employed in its directorates or agencies on renewed fixed-term contracts have the same rights as permanent staff when these contracts end.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government and its agencies do employ staff on fixed-term contracts. These are used to fill posts where there is a temporary need for staff (for example where there are seasonal fluctuations in workload) or there is a need for staff with specific skills which the government may not require in the longer term. Recently, the Scottish Government has used fixed term contracts to provide flexibility while undergoing a restructuring exercise.The Scottish Government takes account of the provisions of the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles when making such appointments. Fixed term workers are also protected by the Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002. Fixed term workers expect that their employment will come to an end on a date specified in their employment contract.

Scottish Government Staff

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many government staff are employed on a fixed-term contract, broken down by (a) directorate, (b) agency and (c) job title.

John Swinney: Table 1 lists the number of staff employed on a fixed term contract broken down by directorate. Directorates with no staff on a fixed term contract are not included. Table 2 covers those agencies for which data is held centrally. The Scottish Government does not hold a comprehensive list of job titles for staff.

  Table 1:

  

Directorate
Number of Staff


Chief Scientific Adviser For Rural Affairs And The Environment
1


Directorate For Energy And Climate Change
2


Directorate For Marine Scotland
20


Directorate For Rural And Environment
3


Directorate For Rural Payments And Inspections
40


Directorate For Commercial And Procurement
2


Financial Services Division
3


Directorate For Built Environment
1


Directorate For Housing, Regeneration And Commonwealth Games
4


Directorate For HR And Organisational Development
1


Directorate For Legal Services (Solicitor To The Scottish Government)
9


Directorate For Local Government And Third Sector
1


Directorate For Strategy And Performance
3


Directorate For Chief Medical Officer, Public Health And Sport
1


Directorate For Health And Social Care Integration
1


Directorate For Health Delivery
1


Directorate For Health Finance And Information
1


Directorate For Education Analytical Services
1


Directorate For Employability, Skills And Lifelong Learning
4


Directorate For Justice
2


Directorate For Learning
4


Directorate For Safer Communities
5


Cabinet Directorate
1


Total
111



  Table 2

  

Agency
Number of Staff


Accountant In Bankruptcy
1


Disclosure Scotland
0


General Register Office (Scotland)
4


HMI Constabulary
1


HMI Prisons
1


HMIe
2


National Archives Scotland
4


Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
1


Student Awards Agency Scotland
3


Scottish Housing Regulator
0


Scottish Public Pensions Agency
6


Social Work Inspection Agency
1


Transport Scotland
1


Total
25



  Note: Data is correct as of 28 February 2011.

Social Care

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the voluntary sector is involved in determining the use of the £70 million Change Fund at a local level.

Shona Robison: Guidance to local health, housing and social care partnerships on accessing the Reshaping Care Change Fund was issued on 23 December 2010. This set a clear expectation on partnerships to include Third and independent sector partners in preparing and agreeing their Change Plans.All partnerships have now submitted local Change Plans to the Scottish Government. A report on these plans will be considered by the Ministerial Strategic Group (MSG) on Health and Community Care at its meeting on 15 March. The MSG will take into account the governance arrangements described by partnerships, and we will be in touch with all partnerships shortly thereafter.

Teachers

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers in each local authority area are employed in full-time, permanent posts.

Michael Russell: The following table contains the number of teachers in full-time, permanent posts, from the September 2010 Teacher Census.

  Teacher Full-Time Equivalent

  

Local Authority
 


Aberdeen City
1,174


Aberdeenshire
1,737


Angus
905


Argyll and Bute
671


Clackmannanshire
372


Dumfries and Galloway
1,134


Dundee City
1,175


East Ayrshire
821


East Dunbartonshire
820


East Lothian
628


East Renfrewshire
853


Edinburgh City
2,246


Eilean Siar
243


Falkirk
1,123


Fife
2,707


Glasgow City
3,593


Highland
1,868


Inverclyde
602


Midlothian
588


Moray
692


North Ayrshire
960


North Lanarkshire
2,740


Orkney Islands
162


Perth and Kinross
898


Renfrewshire
1,148


Scottish Borders
813


Shetland Islands
249


South Ayrshire
820


South Lanarkshire
2,318


Stirling
702


West Dunbartonshire
727


West Lothian
1,384


Grant-Aided
101



  Note: The data excludes pre-school teachers.

Teachers

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers in each local authority area were employed in full-time, permanent posts on 1 April (a) 2010, (b) 2009, (c) 2008 and (d) 2007.

Michael Russell: The following table contains the number of teachers in full-time, permanent posts, from the September Teacher Census for the years 2006 to 2010. As data is not collected in April, teacher numbers in September from the previous calendar year should be used in each case as these relate to the same academic year.

  

Local Authority
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010


Aberdeen City
1,435
1,370
1,311
1,286
1,174


Aberdeenshire
1,883
1,845
1,915
1,805
1,737


Angus
967
973
975
924
905


Argyll and Bute
736
740
716
697
671


Clackmannanshire
425
474
406
365
372


Dumfries and Galloway
1,249
1,178
1,239
1,198
1,134


Dundee City
1,291
1,262
1,253
1,215
1,175


East Ayrshire
938
933
906
857
821


East Dunbartonshire
964
937
908
828
820


East Lothian
736
744
695
676
628


East Renfrewshire
910
956
921
870
853


Edinburgh City
2,557
2,551
2,440
2,295
2,246


Eilean Siar
304
284
290
281
243


Falkirk
1,292
1,257
1,245
1,198
1,123


Fife
2,854
2,808
2,817
2,772
2,707


Glasgow City
4,228
4,177
4,016
3,688
3,593


Highland
1,939
1,911
1,920
1,898
1,868


Inverclyde
699
690
667
627
602


Midlothian
669
685
668
610
588


Moray
769
773
747
728
692


North Ayrshire
1,081
1,088
1,060
991
960


North Lanarkshire
2,853
2,931
2,886
2,831
2,740


Orkney Islands
199
184
163
160
162


Perth and Kinross
1,017
978
981
940
898


Renfrewshire
1,374
1,403
1,282
1,216
1,148


Scottish Borders
904
865
823
816
813


Shetland Islands
273
264
288
269
249


South Ayrshire
852
889
835
801
820


South Lanarkshire
2,625
2,557
2,577
2,436
2,318


Stirling
741
745
745
724
702


West Dunbartonshire
782
794
760
738
727


West Lothian
1,477
1,498
1,513
1,460
1,384


Grant-Aided
56
137
138
132
101



  Note: The data exclude pre-school teachers.

Teachers

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers in each local authority area are employed in full-time-equivalent, permanent posts.

Michael Russell: The following table contains the full-time equivalent number of teachers in permanent posts, from the September 2010 Teacher Census.

  Teacher Full-Time Equivalent

  

Local Authority
 


Aberdeen City
1,356


Aberdeenshire
2,120


Angus
1,028


Argyll and Bute
789


Clackmannanshire
418


Dumfries and Galloway
1,303


Dundee City
1,311


East Ayrshire
920


East Dunbartonshire
958


East Lothian
749


East Renfrewshire
954


Edinburgh City
2,632


Eilean Siar
319


Falkirk
1,283


Fife
3,034


Glasgow City
3,977


Highland
2,229


Inverclyde
674


Midlothian
693


Moray
819


North Ayrshire
1,080


North Lanarkshire
3,003


Orkney Islands
222


Perth and Kinross
1,089


Renfrewshire
1,297


Scottish Borders
958


Shetland Islands
340


South Ayrshire
924


South Lanarkshire
2,655


Stirling
798


West Dunbartonshire
816


West Lothian
1,550


Grant-Aided
143



  Note: The data exclude pre-school teachers.

Teachers

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers in each local authority area were employed in full-time-equivalent, permanent posts on 1 April (a) 2010, (b) 2009, (c) 2008 and (d) 2007.

Michael Russell: The following table contains the full-time equivalent number of teachers in permanent posts, from the September Teacher Census for the years 2006 to 2010. As data is not collected in April, teacher numbers in September from the previous calendar year should be used in each case as these relate to the same academic year.

  

Local Authority
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010


Aberdeen City
1,643
1,565
1,489
1,466
1,356


Aberdeenshire
2,242
2,240
2,340
2,136
2,120


Angus
1,069
1,072
1,082
1,047
1,028


Argyll and Bute
822
823
811
809
789


Clackmannanshire
462
448
449
414
418


Dumfries and Galloway
1,404
1,401
1,407
1,397
1,303


Dundee City
1,376
1,363
1,366
1,340
1,311


East Ayrshire
1,015
1,013
989
961
920


East Dunbartonshire
1,075
1,059
1,031
955
958


East Lothian
812
838
785
792
749


East Renfrewshire
1,011
1,054
1,019
970
954


Edinburgh City
2,866
2,932
2,817
2,677
2,632


Eilean Siar
387
365
364
355
319


Falkirk
1,397
1,383
1,380
1,359
1,283


Fife
3,125
3,063
3,081
3,075
3,034


Glasgow City
4,540
4,486
4,327
4,039
3,977


Highland
2,229
2,215
2,252
2,242
2,229


Inverclyde
762
757
733
698
674


Midlothian
756
764
756
726
693


Moray
881
884
868
856
819


North Ayrshire
1,186
1,195
1,166
1,107
1,080


North Lanarkshire
3,039
3,127
3,098
3,061
3,003


Orkney Islands
253
230
225
217
222


Perth and Kinross
1,164
1,123
1,147
1,132
1,089


Renfrewshire
1,516
1,543
1,419
1,356
1,297


Scottish Borders
1,032
1,020
959
976
958


Shetland Islands
354
357
360
352
340


South Ayrshire
956
948
941
911
924


South Lanarkshire
2,849
2,841
2,835
2,765
2,655


Stirling
800
815
818
803
798


West Dunbartonshire
844
861
829
829
816


West Lothian
1,607
1,641
1,661
1,624
1,550


Grant-Aided
79
241
171
161
143



  Note: The data exclude pre-school teachers.

Teachers

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers in each local authority area are employed in full-time, temporary posts.

Michael Russell: The following table contains the number of teachers in full-time, temporary posts, from the September 2010 Teacher Census.

  Teacher Full-Time Equivalent

  

Local Authority
 


Aberdeen City
180


Aberdeenshire
275


Angus
138


Argyll and Bute
75


Clackmannanshire
51


Dumfries and Galloway
149


Dundee City
145


East Ayrshire
204


East Dunbartonshire
210


East Lothian
156


East Renfrewshire
216


Edinburgh City
410


Eilean Siar
34


Falkirk
214


Fife
455


Glasgow City
728


Highland
204


Inverclyde
82


Midlothian
89


Moray
81


North Ayrshire
196


North Lanarkshire
457


Orkney Islands
25


Perth and Kinross
190


Renfrewshire
238


Scottish Borders
117


Shetland Islands
36


South Ayrshire
156


South Lanarkshire
364


Stirling
140


West Dunbartonshire
117


West Lothian
345


Grant-Aided
9



  Note: The data exclude pre-school teachers.

Teachers

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers in each local authority area were employed in full-time, temporary posts on 1 April (a) 2010, (b) 2009, (c) 2008 and (d) 2007.

Michael Russell: The following table contains the number of teachers in full-time, temporary posts, from the September Teacher Census for the years 2006 to 2010. As data are not collected in April, teacher numbers in September from the previous calendar year should be used in each case as these relate to the same academic year.

  

Local Authority
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010


Aberdeen City
202
205
147
166
180


Aberdeenshire
212
228
245
272
275


Angus
89
99
89
111
138


Argyll and Bute
82
85
78
69
75


Clackmannanshire
39
67
67
82
51


Dumfries and Galloway
123
136
147
139
149


Dundee City
142
156
145
131
145


East Ayrshire
171
242
217
213
204


East Dunbartonshire
149
168
175
186
210


East Lothian
130
119
134
153
156


East Renfrewshire
188
176
160
200
216


Edinburgh City
389
295
385
406
410


Eilean Siar
12
33
22
34
34


Falkirk
180
180
192
179
214


Fife
366
423
397
373
455


Glasgow City
741
869
874
761
728


Highland
154
305
277
217
204


Inverclyde
121
129
105
102
82


Midlothian
120
120
105
106
89


Moray
91
87
90
83
81


North Ayrshire
200
190
201
155
196


North Lanarkshire
560
585
512
472
457


Orkney Islands
10
24
34
32
25


Perth and Kinross
126
163
141
154
190


Renfrewshire
215
251
266
213
238


Scottish Borders
76
137
152
116
117


Shetland Islands
23
28
30
35
36


South Ayrshire
130
147
114
118
156


South Lanarkshire
408
404
404
346
364


Stirling
122
106
87
130
140


West Dunbartonshire
179
183
187
139
117


West Lothian
212
275
296
279
345


Grant-Aided
6
10
8
15
9



  Note: The data exclude pre-school teachers.

Teachers

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers in each local authority area are employed in full-time-equivalent, temporary posts.

Michael Russell: The following table contains the full-time equivalent number of teachers in temporary posts, from the September 2010 Teacher Census.

  

Local Authority
Teacher FTE


Aberdeen City
223


Aberdeenshire
513


Angus
147


Argyll and Bute
109


Clackmannanshire
67


Dumfries and Galloway
260


Dundee City
160


East Ayrshire
275


East Dunbartonshire
246


East Lothian
175


East Renfrewshire
242


Edinburgh City
518


Eilean Siar
47


Falkirk
250


Fife
527


Glasgow City
863


Highland
285


Inverclyde
103


Midlothian
118


Moray
94


North Ayrshire
269


North Lanarkshire
582


Orkney Islands
38


Perth and Kinross
250


Renfrewshire
294


Scottish Borders
158


Shetland Islands
44


South Ayrshire
202


South Lanarkshire
458


Stirling
159


West Dunbartonshire
128


West Lothian
390


Grant aided
14



  The data exclude pre-school teachers.

Teachers

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers in each local authority area were employed in full-time-equivalent, temporary posts on 1 April (a) 2010, (b) 2009, (c) 2008 and (d) 2007.

Michael Russell: The following table contains the full-time equivalent number of teachers in temporary posts from the September Teacher Census for the years 2006 to 2010. As data are not collected in April, teacher numbers in September from the previous calendar year should be used in each case as these relate to the same academic year.

  

Local Authority
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010


Aberdeen City
245
262
199
216
223


Aberdeenshire
298
317
334
477
513


Angus
97
113
98
122
147


Argyll and Bute
115
117
107
109
109


Clackmannanshire
46
75
85
101
67


Dumfries and Galloway
169
201
211
198
260


Dundee City
154
168
158
145
160


East Ayrshire
206
268
246
286
275


East Dunbartonshire
183
204
211
224
246


East Lothian
143
132
151
174
175


East Renfrewshire
209
197
178
222
242


Edinburgh City
482
389
486
515
518


Eilean Siar
32
44
32
46
47


Falkirk
198
206
216
199
250


Fife
406
465
450
432
527


Glasgow City
847
986
999
907
863


Highland
232
365
336
273
285


Inverclyde
137
140
117
118
103


Midlothian
140
147
133
129
118


Moray
112
102
105
96
94


North Ayrshire
262
256
273
236
269


North Lanarkshire
651
669
608
582
582


Orkney Islands
23
33
44
47
38


Perth and Kinross
159
198
170
207
250


Renfrewshire
249
278
296
252
294


Scottish Borders
111
181
199
155
158


Shetland Islands
36
37
38
43
44


South Ayrshire
170
181
149
156
202


South Lanarkshire
441
457
445
438
458


Stirling
145
138
108
153
159


West Dunbartonshire
199
202
201
149
128


West Lothian
235
299
326
315
390


Grant aided
8
15
10
17
14



  The data exclude pre-school teachers.

Teachers

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time teaching posts are vacant in each local authority area.

Michael Russell: This information is not collected centrally.

Teachers

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time-equivalent teaching posts are vacant in each local authority area.

Michael Russell: The full-time equivalent number of teacher vacancies is published on the government website and is available using the following link. The data relate to the position in February 2010. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/06/01120352/0 .

Transport

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish an action plan for low-carbon vehicles as referred to on page one of its 2009 Consultation on Low Carbon Vehicles .

Keith Brown: Consultation on Low Carbon Vehicles stated on page one that "…we are conscious there remains a significant amount of work in front of us before the completion of a strategy and supporting targets." Work is currently ongoing to review the analysis of responses to this consultation, and this will result in the formation of strategy on low carbon vehicles in 2011.

Correction

The reply to question S3W-38887 which was originally answered on 1 February 2011, has been corrected: see page 11063 or http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-11/wa0308.htm.  The reply to question S3W-35013 which was originally answered on 26 July 2010, has been corrected: see page 11102 or http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-11/wa0309.htm.  The reply to question S3W-38863 which was originally answered on 28 January 2011, has been corrected: see page 11103 or http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-11/wa0309.htm.

  The reply to question S3W-38864 which was originally answered on 28 January 2011, has been corrected: see page 11104 or http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-11/wa0309.htm.